Russian tech, weapons help Iran crush protests
REUTERS/Francesco Fotia
Russia has been supplying Iran with military equipment and internet surveillance technology used in the brutal suppression of ongoing nationwide protests, Foreign Policy reported on Jan. 15.
According to the report, Moscow is not planning direct military intervention in Iran but is providing systematic support to the regime’s repressive apparatus. Russia has delivered small arms, armored vehicles, and helicopters to Tehran and has shared expertise in crowd-control tactics.
Iranian security forces have long relied on Soviet- and Russian-made weapons. During earlier protests, authorities used machine guns, sniper rifles, and armored personnel carriers against civilians.
“Instead, Moscow is doing what it has done repeatedly over the past two decades when authoritarian partners face internal threats: reinforcing the tools of repression, sharing lessons from its own experience managing dissent, and insulating the regime from external pressure,” FP writes.
“Moscow continues to provide the key military equipment and sophisticated internet suppression technology that the Iranian regime is using today.”
Russian companies have also helped Iran build a deep-packet inspection system that allows authorities to block selected messaging apps, track protest organizers, and keep state services and banks online. That capability enabled Iranian officials to curb mobilization for demonstrations without paralyzing government operations, the report says.
In late 2025, Russia delivered about 40 modern Spartak armored vehicles, designed for urban operations, to Iran. Officials view the fleet as a reserve in case protests escalate or security forces fracture. Diplomatically, Russia has shielded Tehran by blocking or softening international pressure and portraying the protests as foreign interference.
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